“You’re not like Jaro,” Asarem said angrily. “You backed the Circle only because he led you to believe it gave our people the best chance for stability, security, and independence. But all Jaro wanted was power, a lust he disguised with patriotism and misrepresentations of the Federation’s real intentions toward Bajor. Jaro liedto you. He lied to everyone.Add to that the fact that you were also betrayed by your own second-in-command, who murdered Li Nalas…”
Asarem trailed off, seeing a flicker of pain cross Krim’s face. It was gone in an instant, but she knew she hadn’t imagined it. The death of Bajor’s most revered hero of the Occupation, on his watch, remained an open wound.
“No one blamed you for those things,” Asarem told him. “Nor for refusing to open fire on your own people.”
“I allowed myself be misled,” Krim maintained. “That cannot be overlooked, or forgiven.”
“What you really mean is that you won’t forgive yourself. But Bajor forgave you a long time ago, in no small part because you spent a lifetime fighting for our people, and that’s something that will neverbe overlooked. That’s how you’re remembered, Aldos. Not as Jaro’s fool.”
Asarem paused before continuing. “I know what it feels like to have your faith betrayed, to follow a leader who turns out to be not what he claimed. But I didn’t have the luxury of retreating when those deceits were exposed. I had to fight harder than ever because that was what Bajor needed of me, and that’s exactly what it needs of you now.”
“Have you not even stopped to consider that perhaps I no longer care what Bajor needs?” Krim asked.
“Not for an instant,” Asarem answered emphatically. “Service to our people is what your life was always about, whether it was fighting in the resistance, or leading the Militia. Walking away from that life was a mistake. Don’t shake your head at me! You knew I was coming here, and you knew the reason for my visit. Why would you continue to stay informed on the most current goings-on within the government if you no longer cared? You can’t help yourself. It’s who you are. Even when you resigned, you thought you were serving Bajor, that it was better off without you. That Iwas better off without you. You even convinced meof that. Well, now I know we were both wrong.”
Krim remained silent. She tried to discern what he was thinking, but his face revealed nothing.
“I’m not here to tell you we can get back what we lost,” she went on to say. “Our marriage ended for the wrong reasons, and I moved on. Your career ended for the wrong reasons, too, and the Militia moved on. But your value to Bajor isn’t ended…and you never moved on.”
“Wadeen, do you hear yourself? You’re spinning a fantasy. Even if everything you’ve said is true, I was always an opponent of Federation membership. Time may have proven that they are not the ‘new Cardassians’ the Circle once tried to paint them, and that Bajor has benefited thus far from our association, but I remain skeptical.”
“But don’t you see, Aldos?” Asarem said. “That’s why it has to be you.”
“I am not a diplomat. I’m a soldier.”
“Then bea soldier!” Asarem said. “Walk out onto the battle-field and fight for your people! Defend, advance, strategize, make alliances, attack if you must, fall back when necessary. Do what needs to be done as Krim Aldos would do it. Be the voice of Bajor.”
Krim seemed to be studying her eyes as if searching for signs of madness there. Part of her wondered if he’d be entirely wrong to do so.
“This will not endear you to the Chamber of Ministers,” he said. “You’ll have many more political adversaries if I accept.”
“Let me worry about the Chamber of Ministers.”
“Be serious, Wadeen. If your popularity slips because of this, it will only make it that much harder for you to govern effectively, and to win reelection.”
She let out a sigh of frustration. “I’m not concerned right now with my chances for reelection.”
“Then whyare you doing this?”
Asarem looked at him, surprised that he still didn’t understand. “Do you even know why I got into politics? It was because I wanted power. Not the way Jaro wanted it. I wanted power so that, when I amassed enough of it, I would wield it to do the most good. If I don’t seize this opportunity to put a strong, effective Bajoran voice on the Federation Council, regardless of the consequences to my popularity, then my power as first minister will have been wasted, and my assumption of this office meaningless.” She paused and smiled at him crookedly. “Besides, if you do the job the way I expect you to, my approval ratings will skyrocket. But first you have to give me your answer. I need you to say it out loud. Will you accept this appointment?”
Ten minutes later, night had fallen, and the stars over Janitza shone down from a clear black sky. Asarem’s personal guards, keeping their discreet watch on the house, spotted her approaching and signaled her skycar, which promptly hummed to life. Theno emerged from inside and stood alongside the conveyance, holding the hatch open for her.
As she crossed the clearing, she took out her comlink and called Ledahn. “Yes, First Minister?”
“He accepted,” Asarem said simply. Game, set, and match.
There was a moment of silence over the link. Asarem suspected Ledahn was giving a quick mental prayer of thanks to the Prophets. “That’s excellent news, First Minister.”
“I told him a craft would be by tomorrow morning to take him to the capital. I’d like to make the public announcement at midday, from the Chamber gardens.”
“I’ll alert the communications staff and have them make the necessary arrangements. Will you be returning to Ashalla?”
“Not yet,” she said. “I have a commitment in Kendra Province this evening. I’ll speak with you in the morning.”
“Try to enjoy yourself. You deserve it,”Ledahn said. “And congratulations, First Minister.”
“Good night, Muri.” Asarem cut the link as she neared the skycar, halting in front of Theno. She looked into her aide’s impassive face, and finally asked the question that had been nagging at her all afternoon. “So what made you think of Krim?”
Theno continued staring straight ahead. “You did, First Minister, when you said you missed him.”
Asarem’s brow furrowed. “When did I say that?”
“This morning, when you complained about the tea.”
Asarem replayed the conversation in her mind. After a moment, she smiled and shook her head. “There are times, Theno, when I don’t know whether to thank the Prophets or curse them for your service,” she said, and entered the skycar
“I’m often puzzled by the same question, First Minister,” Theno answered, and closed the hatch.
Rena
“How old is this place?” Jacob asked.
Rena tried to remember details from her last art-history course, one of the few historical classes first-year students were required to attend, but she had studied halfheartedly, distracted by Topa’s deteriorating condition, so her memories of the details were scant. “Not really sure,” she admitted. “Twelve, fifteen thousand years at least. Not as old as some other cities that have been unearthed. Not like B’hala, but old enough. Do they have ruins like this on Earth?”